EP2065862A1 - Preparation of test signals for testing the comprehensibility of acoustic signals from a safety alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit (120a) has a control device (122) coupled with a center (110) of an electro-acoustic security system (100). The control device is arranged in such a manner that a test signal e.g. noise or voice signal, for testing perceivability of acoustic signals is supplied based on a request signal from the center, where the acoustic signals are reflected from the unit. A memory unit (130) is connected with the control device, and stores the test signal. An evaluating device evaluates the test signal that corresponds to a standard European Norm (EN) 60268-16. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a hazard warning system comprising a peripheral unit and a center (2) a method for supplying test signals for testing of acoustic signals emitted from a peripheral unit.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of acoustic hazard detection technology. The present invention particularly relates to a peripheral unit for an acoustic alarm system, which peripheral unit can be checked and tested in a simple manner with regard to the intelligibility of output acoustic signals. The present invention further relates to a hazard detection system, which has a center and at least one coupled to the center of peripheral unit of the type mentioned. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for providing test signals for checking the audible signals output by a peripheral unit of said type for their comprehensibility.

In large buildings is increasingly demanded that a system for sound is available so that in an emergency notifications and the building can be evacuated ordered. Frequently, such a facility exists anyway to provide the building with background music to make general announcements and / or to promote goods or services. In this case, it will be convenient to use a common system for both such commercial concerns and for audible warnings to be issued in a hazardous event. In other cases, only an emergency sound system is installed which is not available for other applications.

As soon as such sound systems are also provided for emergencies, they must comply with the relevant regulations suffice. In particular, it must comply with the standard EN 60849, which sets out mandatory requirements for "electroacoustic emergency warning systems". This standard requires that the intelligibility of audible warnings be sufficiently good, referring to other standards and in particular the standard EN 60268-16, which requires an "objective assessment of speech intelligibility by the speech transmission index".

The audibility of audible warnings can be checked, for example, using the software "DIRAC", which is distributed by Brüel & Kjaer (see also http://www.bksv.com). However, such intelligibility measurements require a suitable test signal, which is usually stored on a compact disc (CD) and fed in an appropriate manner. If the sound system is designed for continuous playback of music, a CD player is usually present anyway. If this is not the case, in many cases a microphone input is used, into which the corresponding test signal can be fed.

If the public address system is intended only for emergencies, however, such options are often not available. Playback from CD is in this case not appropriate, since there is no guarantee that in case of emergency, the correct CD is inserted and thus the correct announcement is played. In addition, playback devices for CDs, like all devices with moving mechanical components, are prone to failure. It may be that a microphone input is present so that a responsible person can make an announcement in an emergency. This input is not always available, and in France such a microphone input is even prohibited.

Furthermore, emergency warning systems are known in which the messages to be played in an emergency, central saved and strengthened to the necessary performance. These signals are transmitted to the individual playback units using the known 100 V technology. In this case, the ohmic losses are significantly reduced by increased voltage, especially for longer lines.

In addition, emergency warning systems are also known in which systems are used in which the messages to be displayed are not stored centrally but locally in each individual reproduction unit. From a central location, there is only one connection with which the playback is triggered and optionally one of several messages can be selected. In such a system, it is naturally very cumbersome to feed the test signal in the decentralized playback units.

The object of the present invention is to improve the examination of the intelligibility of acoustic signals of a peripheral unit of a danger detection system.

This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a peripheral unit for a danger detection system and in particular for an electroacoustic hazard detection system is described. The described peripheral unit has a control device, which can be coupled to a control center of the danger detection system, and which is set up in such a way that at least one test signal for checking the intelligibility of acoustic signals that can be reproduced by the peripheral unit can be provided in response to a request signal from the control center is.

The described peripheral unit is based on the knowledge that the test signals required for checking the intelligibility of acoustic alarm signals can be stored in the peripheral unit itself or generated if necessary. In order to check the intelligibility of the acoustic alarm signals can thus be dispensed advantageously on an external feed of corresponding test signals in the peripheral unit. This has the advantage that a routine check of the operability of a plurality of peripheral units can be effected in an effective manner by a suitable request signal or by a plurality of suitable request signals. The request signals can be transmitted via a conventional detector line from the center to the relevant peripheral units. A complicated in terms of operating effort inserting external storage media such as a CD in each peripheral unit can thus be avoided.

It should be noted that the invention has no principal upper limit with regard to the number of different test signals which can be provided internally. A large number of different test signals has the advantage that the intelligibility of issued acoustic alarm signals or audible warning signals can be checked in a variety of ways. As a result, the measurement accuracy is increased in a significant way.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the peripheral unit additionally has a memory device which is coupled to the control device and which is set up to store the at least one test signal.

Various test signals can be stored in the memory device, which can be provided by a suitable request signal. Each test signal is assigned a specific acoustic test signal with which the intelligibility of acoustic alarm signals can be checked.

As a result of the described storage of the at least one test signal, this test signal or these test signals are always present in the peripheral unit and can thus be used for corresponding intelligibility tests without any appreciable time delay.

The storage of the at least one test signal can be carried out in the same manner as are stored in a known manner with modern peripherals fixed predetermined acoustic alarm signals. The same applies to the retrieval of the test signal, which can be read in the same or in a similar manner as a stored audible alarm signal from the memory device.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the peripheral unit additionally has a calculation device for calculating the at least one test signal. This has the advantage that the at least one test signal does not have to be stored constantly but can be generated in case of need by applying a predetermined calculation rule. Since the storage of a calculation rule usually requires significantly less storage space than the storage of an audio test signal, in this way the required memory requirement for an internal provision of the at least one test signal can be significantly reduced. This means that with a certain storage capacity significantly more different audio test signals can be provided.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the calculation device has a feedback shift register. The use of a feedback shift register in which, for example, two outputs of the shift register are combined via an XOR gate and an input of the Shift register are fed, has the advantage that in a simple manner, a reproducible pseudo-random noise signal can be generated. Pseudo-random noise signals are just as well suited as a test signal with regard to comprehensibility tests, as are completely random noise signals which are generated, for example, by statistical thermal effects.

It should be noted that the calculation device may also have a modulation device, which may be connected downstream of the feedback shift register, for example. As a result, pseudo-random noise signals can additionally be modulated so that particularly suitable test signals can be generated for a comprehensibility test.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, this corresponds to at least one test signal of the standard EN 60268-16. This has the advantage that the speech intelligibility of acoustic alarm signals generated by the peripheral unit can be used by standardized evaluation methods in order to verify intelligibility in an objective manner.

It should be noted that, of course, other test signals can be provided, which do not meet the standard EN 60268-16, but which can also be used to verify the speech intelligibility.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one test signal is a noise signal. The noise signal may include a completely random noise or a so-called pseudorandom noise. In this case, a pseudo-random noise, which can be generated for example by means of a feedback shift register, has the advantage that it represents a reproducible signal.

This allows the corresponding intelligibility measurements to be carried out in an objective manner.

It should be noted that the noise signal may also have a certain modulation, so that even in the case of a completely random noise for a comprehensibility test particularly suitable test signals can be generated.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one test signal is a superposition of selected sinusoidal individual signals. The generation of the at least one test signal by a superposition of suitable sine and / or cosine oscillations has the advantage that exactly reproducible test signals can be generated in a particularly simple manner.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one test signal is a voice signal. The speech signal may be a suitable word, such as the word "rhubarb". Preferably, this word is repeated over and over again so that the speech intelligibility of a speech signal generated by the peripheral unit can be determined by repeated measurements with high accuracy.

It should be noted that other syllables or words that do not necessarily conform to EN 60268-16 can be used to test speech intelligibility. These syllables and / or words can be permanently stored in the memory device described above and reproduced if necessary.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the peripheral unit additionally has a further memory device, which is coupled to the control device and which is used to store at least one acoustic signal Alarm signal is set up. This has the advantage that not only the test signals are provided internally but also that the alarm signals, which are output in a hazardous situation by the described peripheral unit, are stored in the peripheral device. For this purpose, a separate data memory can be provided with the further memory device. Alternatively, the memory device described above and the further memory device are assigned to a single data memory in which both the test signals and the alarm signals are stored.

It should be noted that a plurality of data memories can also be provided, wherein in each data memory, for example, one or more test and / or alarm signals can be stored. If exactly one test or alarm signal is stored in each data memory, the individual data memories can, if required, be individually selected by the control device and the corresponding signal can be read out.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the peripheral unit additionally has a display device for reproducing acoustic test signals based on the at least one test signal. This means that the reproduction device has at least one acoustic output unit, such as a conventional loudspeaker. Furthermore, the display device may also have a suitable amplifier, which amplifies the signals directed to the acoustic output unit in a known manner.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a danger detection system and in particular an electroacoustic hazard detection system is described. The security alarm system has a control center and at least one peripheral unit of the above-mentioned type, wherein the control center and the at least one Peripheral unit are connected to each other via a line or a wireless connection.

The described danger detection system is based on the finding that the intelligibility of acoustic danger messages, which can be output by any peripheral units of the danger detection system, can be checked in an effective manner by supplying suitable request signals to the peripheral units described above. In this case, the test signals intended for different peripheral units can be transmitted successively or simultaneously via the line from the center to the respective peripheral unit.

The line may be a bus line, for example, so that each individual one of a plurality of peripheral units can be addressed individually.

By transmitting the corresponding request signals to the respective peripheral unit, the intelligibility of all the alarm signals generated by the danger detection system can be tested without the corresponding test signals of each individual peripheral unit having to be provided externally, for example by inserting a CD. Thus, routine checks of the hazard detection system can be effectively, i. be carried out without a major operating effort.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for checking the audible signals output by a peripheral unit of the above type is described for its comprehensibility. The method comprises (a) supplying a request signal to the peripheral unit, (b) providing a test signal by the controller of the peripheral unit.

The described verification method for peripheral units is based on the insight that the intelligibility of alarm messages of the peripheral units are checked in a simple and particularly convenient manner by an internal provision of suitable test signals, which are stored, for example, in a memory device of the peripheral unit or determined in a computing device of the peripheral unit can. Of course, after the provision of the test signal outputting of a test signal based on the provided test signal and carried out in a known manner evaluating the output test signal.

Due to the fact that the required test signals no longer need to be supplied via external data carriers of each individual peripheral unit of a hazard detection system, can be tested by appropriate commands simultaneously or sequentially many peripheral units. This considerably reduces the operating effort of such tests, which must be carried out regularly in more or less short time intervals, depending on the respective valid safety requirement.

Figur 1

zeigt ein elektroakustisches Gefahrmeldesystem mit Peripherieeinheiten, welche jeweils eine Speichereinrichtung zur internen Bereitstellung von Prüfsignalen zur Prüfung der Verständlichkeit von auszugebenden akustischen Signalen aufweisen.

Figur 2

zeigt eine Peripherieeinheit eines elektroakustischen Gefahrmeldesystems, welche eine Berechnungseinrich- tung zur internen Generierung von Prüfsignalen zur Prüfung der Verständlichkeit von auszugebenden akustischen Signalen aufweist.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary description of presently preferred embodiments. The figures of the drawing of this application are merely schematic and not to scale.

FIG. 1

shows an electro-acoustic hazard detection system with peripheral units, each having a memory device for the internal provision of test signals to check the intelligibility of issued acoustic signals.

FIG. 2

shows a peripheral unit of an electroacoustic hazard detection system, which has a computing device device for the internal generation of test signals for checking the intelligibility of output acoustic signals.

It should be noted at this point that in the drawing the reference signs of identical or corresponding components differ only in their first digit and / or by an appended letter.

FIG. 1 shows an electro-acoustic hazard detection system 100, which has a center 110 and multiple peripheral units or alarm message playback devices. For clarity, in FIG. 1 only two peripheral units 120a and 120b are shown. Depending on the particular requirements, the electroacoustic hazard detection system 100 may include one peripheral device, multiple peripheral devices, or any number of peripheral devices.

The peripheral units 120a and 120b are connected to the center 110 via a line 115. According to the embodiment shown here, the line 115 is a bus connection.

The peripheral units 120a and 120b each have a memory device 130, which comprises a plurality of memory locations 131, 132, 133. According to the embodiment shown here, a test signal for checking the intelligibility of acoustic signals which can be reproduced by the peripheral unit 120a, 120b is stored in each memory location 131, 132, 133. The number of memory locations depends on the respective needs and is between one and as many as desired. In FIG. 1 For example, three memory locations 131, 132, 133 are shown.

In each peripheral unit 120a and 120b, a further memory device 140 is also provided, which comprises a certain number of memory locations 141, 142, 143 for predetermined acoustic alarm messages. Again, the number depends on the needs and will be between one and any number. In the in FIG. 1 For reasons of clarity, only the three memory locations 141, 142 and 143 are shown.

By means of a switch 150, one of the alarm signals or one of the test signals is selected and supplied to an acoustic reproduction device. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the acoustic reproduction device comprises an amplifier 160 and an electroacoustic transducer 162 embodied as a loudspeaker. The selected signal is brought to the required level in the amplifier 160 and reproduced with the electroacoustic transducer 162.

The position of the switch 150 is set in the center 110, and the required information is forwarded to the control device 122 via the bus connection 115. The controller 122 converts these signals so that the switch 150 assumes the correct position. The controller 122 further turns on the amplifier 160.

It should be noted that the peripheral units 120a and 120b must of course also be supplied with electrical energy. This is done in a known manner via a feed line, for reasons of clarity in FIG. 1 not shown.

FIG. 2 shows a peripheral unit 220, which differs from the peripheral unit 120a and 120b only in that the internally provided test signals are not stored but if necessary by means of a calculation device 235 are calculated. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the calculation device 235 has a feedback shift register 237. The feedback shift register 237 may generate in a known manner pseudo-random noise signals which are particularly suitable for an objective measurement of the intelligibility of acoustic test signals output by the peripheral unit. Namely, the pseudo-random noise signals can be generated reproducibly, so that there are precisely defined conditions for an automatic evaluation of the acoustic test signals.

A switch 250 can now be set between different memory locations 241, 242, 243, in each of which an alarm signal is stored, and an output of the calculation device 235. In this way, either the corresponding alarm signals or a calculated test signal can be supplied to an amplifier 260.

The other components of the peripheral unit 220 are associated with the corresponding components of FIG FIG. 1 shown peripheral units 120a, 120b identical and will therefore not be explained again in detail at this point.

It should be noted that the embodiments described herein represent only a limited selection of possible embodiments of the invention. Thus, it is possible to suitably combine the features of individual embodiments with one another, so that for the person skilled in the art with the variants of embodiment that are explicit here, a multiplicity of different embodiments are to be regarded as obviously disclosed.

Claims (12)

Peripheral unit for a hazard detection system (100), in particular for an electroacoustic hazard detection system (100), the peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220) comprising • a control device (122, 222) which can be coupled to a control center (110) of the danger detection system (100) and which is set up such that, in response to a request signal from the control center (110), at least one test signal for checking the intelligibility of acoustic signals that can be provided by the peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220). Peripheral unit according to claim 1, additionally comprising A memory device (130), which is coupled to the control device (122) and which is set up for storing the at least one test signal. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 2, additionally comprising • a calculation device (235) for calculating the at least one test signal. Peripheral unit according to claim 3, wherein
the calculating means (235) comprises a feedback shift register (237). Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one test signal corresponds to the standard EN 60268-16. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one test signal is a noise signal. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one test signal is a superimposition of selected sinusoidal individual signals. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one test signal is a voice signal. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, additionally comprising A further memory device (140, 240), which is coupled to the control device (122, 222) and which
is configured to store at least one audible alarm signal. Peripheral unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, additionally comprising • a playback device (160, 162, 260, 262) for reproducing acoustic test signals based on the at least one test signal. Hazard alarm system, in particular electro-acoustic hazard alarm system, having the hazard alarm system (100) • a control center (110) and At least one peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the central office (110) and the at least one peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220) are interconnected via a line (115, 215) or a wireless connection. A method for providing test signals for checking the audible signals output by a peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having the method thereof Supplying a request signal to the peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220), and • Providing a test signal by the control device (122, 222) of the peripheral unit (120a, 120b, 220).

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